Just been sent in a record with photo below of the Ruddy Carpet - taken by Lee and Amanda Barton at Brompton Ralph.  Our status designation for this species currently "Occasional and local".

Records for this species are fairly sparse - with only 61 observations on file.  Current distribution is show below - worth looking out for this species at the moment.

First for the year, Swallow-tailed Moth, Dingy Shears, Gold Spot, Double Lobed from trap and Large Tabby indoors, for the 27th June.

It is time for another edition of 'The Nocturnal Record'!

I will glean what I can from the website but if anyone has anything they would particularly like included please email to me!

• photos welcome, but they need to be better quality JPEGs than needed for the website (ideally 1024 px max width or 768 px max ht)

• comments on the year to date

• news and views

I realise that this excludes those who don't have internet access but I hope to remedy this in the future by requesting material and giving deadlines in the printed version.

If I don't hear from anyone the newsletter will be my version of events!

DEADLINE MONDAY 7 JULY

Cypress Carpet at Closworth

What a difference in numbers with cloud cover 42 Macros and Bee Moth Aphomia sociella with a total of 12.

The common Grass Moths of Berkshire is a new publication by the Berkshire Moth Group. At the moment (my technical limitations?) I can only make it available from the Dorset Moth Group website http://www.dorsetmothgroup.org.uk/ as a downloadable PDF document.

This is a pilot version only, and copyright rests with the Berkshire Moth Group. Individuals may download and/or print a copy for their own use, but any other distribution is prohibited. The Group would be very interested in any feedback, which can be sent to the author, Nick Asher, at this email address:
mail@nickasher.co.uk

After missing a number of nights due to very poor catches last night 20th a Privet Hawk Moth was in the trap not a common moth for my garden.

Among a very average GMS night catch there was one Delicate Mythimna vitellina

My Emperor Moth eggs hatched successfully and took to Blackthorn straight away. They have been sleeved out on my allotment for the last fortnight and are nearing maturity. The three images are 1) second instar 2) 4th instar and 3) final (5th) instar.

I have had good numbers of Mottled Beauty in the trap this month. There have also been 2 unusual specimens.

Normally both fore-and hind-wings are strongly patterned but in the first specimen the hindwing markings are very faint. In the second which is form conversaria the normal markings are replaced by a striking brown and buff pattern.

scarlet tiger flying round treetops in sunshine

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe.

Mark :- I agree that the caterpillar you feature today is probably a Copper Underwing.

Can anyone confirm the this?  Copper Underwing?  Picture was sent in by David Manners who said it was "found feeding on an ornamental Acer in a garden near Wiveliscombe on 9 June 2008."

Trapped at Redway Orchard, Porlock for NMN. 50+ species including my first Netted Pug. Better picture to follow .

Spent NMN at home this year. A nice tally of thirty species including Eyed and Elephant Hawkmoth, 2x Large Nutmeg, Green Pug, Figure of Eighty, Poplar Grey, Brussels Lace and Lychnis. Not sure if the two apple trees in my garden will allow me to count it as an orchard.

Figure of Eighty

Green Pug

Brussels Lace

A bizarre sight on a suburban housing estate at dusk today - six male Ghost Moths carrying out their swaying flight.

Whitefield, Wiveliscombe - Min Temp 7 degrees.

Firsts for 2008:- Green Arches, Privet Hawk, Common Wainscot, Thistle Ermine, Mottled Rustic and Uncertain.

This is Buckleria paludum, an unusual plume moth. The larvae feed on Drosera rotundifolia (round-leaved sundew). This individual was found at the Westhay Somerset Wildlife Trust reserve, where the foodplant is thriving in a mire restoration area. It is the first time it has been seen in Somerset since the original record at Shapwick in 1954.

Phycitodes maritima at Closworth

One of the interesting things in running a garden trap is how long it takes different moths to turn up. Marbled Brown breeds commonly within half a dozen miles of me but it's still taken twelve years to produce this single example.

A trip to my old home stomping grounds of Norfolk and Suffolk gave some new species. Pictured below, a superb Purple Cloud, brought across from the continent on the same winds that have seen many rare birds on the east coast. Looking slightly less superb as its flight period was almost over, a Lace Border.

Purple Cloud

Lace Border

31st May, first for year Coxcombe Prominent very infrequent here Burnished Brass f aurea the common one in my garden and Shark.